News Release Highlights  Contributions Sparked Fireworks Display  Use of Ozone Treatment Begins at the Melbourne Water Production Plant   National Accreditation Awarded to Melbourne Police Department Several City Offices Temporarily Relocate to Allow Construction Work  Dedication Ceremony Reopens the Eau Gallie Pier    Melbourne Provides Support for Law and Public Safety Academy    City's Bond Credit Rating is Elevated to 'A1'    Cell Phone Contributions Assist Potential Victims     DCA Notice of Intent - Comprehensive Plan Amendment   

The ozone-treated water was delivered to consumers intermittently during November, and full-time ozone treatment began November 26. In addition to ozone treatment, the water production improvement project also includes rehabilitation of the raw water intake structure on Lake Washington, construction of a new south raw water pump station, improvements to the backwash recovery system, and new chemical feed systems. The City provides water to approximately 150,000 customers in Melbourne and six other cities as well as in unincorporated areas of South Brevard County.
 

A national accreditation has been awarded to the Melbourne Police Department by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, culminating a two-year process that measured the law enforcement agency against a lengthy set of professional standards.  Police Chief Don Carey noted that the accreditation involved a process that included on-site inspections from a national team representing the commission.  Assessors evaluated the department on the basis of 466 professional standards, conducted panel interviews of staff members, inspected facilities, and performed ‘ride-alongs’ with officers.  “We worked long and hard to reach this goal.  CALEA certification means that we are nationally recognized as using the best practices in modern policing and being a model for other law enforcement agencies,” Chief Carey said.  In 2006, CALEA listed 52 Florida law enforcement agencies as accredited, including the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.

Participating in the presentation of CALEA accreditation to the Melbourne Police Department were, from left, CALEA Executive Director Sylvester Daughtry, Melbourne Deputy Chief Joe Hellebrand, Melbourne Lt. Curtis Barger, Melbourne Chief Don Carey, and CALEA Commission Chairman James O'Dell.

“Accreditation improves public safety services by comparing the Melbourne Police Department to the best procedures currently used by law enforcement and by raising any non-compliant areas up to those standards,” Carey said.  “There are only a few hundred police agencies in the country that have received accreditation.”   He said that it has been shown that accredited law enforcement agencies have more defensible positions in legal actions and experience fewer civil actions against the agency, and that the recognition improves agency standing both in law enforcement circles and in the community.  

City Manager Jack Schluckebier commended the department.  “To attain national accreditation sets the bar higher here,” he said.  “It is a distinction few agencies ever achieve and I commend the entire police department for this significant achievement.” 

CALEA was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the efforts of law enforcement’s major executive associations: International Association of Chiefs of Police, Nation Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Sheriff’s Association, and Police Executive Research Forum. 

The 21 CALEA commissioners are appointed by those four organizations. Eleven are law enforcement practitioners and the others are selected from both the public and private sectors including representation from the business community, academia, and the judiciary.  
 

City Offices Temporarily Relocated to Allow Construction Work 

Several municipal offices have been temporarily relocated as work proceeds on a project to build a new Melbourne City Hall.  Offices which have been relocated for about one year are those previously located in two annex buildings just west of the current City Hall, which is at 900 E. Strawbridge Ave. 

The annex structures are to be razed to make way for the new City Hall building, which is expected to be operational in October of 2008. The displaced offices are to move back at that time.

The relocated offices are the Code Compliance Division, which processes both building permits and City Code violations; the Engineering Department, which processes development plans; the Personnel Division, which handles employment applications; and the Risk Management Division.

All of those offices have been relocated to 830 N. Apollo Boulevard.  The location is in the commercial plaza at the southwest corner of the intersection of Apollo Boulevard and Sarno Road.

Although moving activities are to begin about a week earlier, business is to be conducted at the old locations through Sept. 14.  Most phone numbers for all of the offices that have relocated are to remain unchanged, however the Code Compliance Division has a new fax number, (321) 757-5928.

The construction has required the closing of the drive-through payment window for utility customers at the end of August, since the driveway just west of City Hall is to be affected by the work. Several payment options remain for utility customers. Payments are always accepted inside City Hall between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Acceptance of payments by mail and through automatic debits from bank accounts is continuing.  Payments can be made by phone utilizing credit card arrangements. A drop-box for payments will also be continued in the vicinity of City Hall.
 

The $588,350 project was primarily funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Florida Inland Navigation District. Additional funding was provided through the Olde Eau Gallie Community Redevelopment Agency and the City of Melbourne. The design of the new pier was funded through Waterfronts Florida, a program of the Florida Department of Community Affairs.
 

Melbourne Provides Support for Law and Public Safety Academy

Melbourne Police Chief Don Carey has presented a $2,500 check to the Academy of Law and Public Safety at Palm Bay High School to support educational programs.  The contribution, also aimed at promotion of crime prevention, come from a trust fund that collects money resulting from confiscations that accompany criminal cases. The academy provides a three-year program designed to provide students with a wide range of opportunities to consider careers in law and public safety.  The Academy was established four years ago and offers courses in areas including law studies, criminal justice operations, and criminal investigations.  Students also participate in class field trips and competitions.  Palm Bay High School is located in Melbourne and the academy accepts high school students from all over the county.

(From left) Palm Bay High School Principal John Thomas, Academy Director Damian Wilson, and Melbourne Police Chief Don Carey.

"This is a great opportunity to train quality candidates in these important career fields who have roots in our community," said Chief Carey.

City’s Bond Credit Rating is Elevated to ‘A1’

Moody’s Investors Service has announced an upgrade of the City of Melbourne’s bond rating to ‘A1’ status.  The upgrade from an ‘A2’ bond rating applies to $19-million in utility bonds that are being refunded to save on interest charges and to $79.3-million in other bonds that have allowed the City to borrow money for major water and sewer projects.

"The upgrade from A2 to A1 is an acknowledgment of the strong financial position of the Water & Sewer System and that strong management practices are in place,” said Michele Ennis, the City’s Director of Finance.  A higher rating from an independent source that specializes in reviewing credit profiles of municipalities makes Melbourne bonds more attractive to investors.

“The rating will result in lower borrowing costs for the City on future water and sewer financings,” Ennis noted.

Ennis said that the City is in the process of refunding $19-million in utility bonds at 4.57%, which will result in an interest savings of more than $1-million.  The bonds were originally issued in 2000 to fund improvements to the water and sewer system, and are being repaid over 30 years.

Cell Phone Contributions Can Assist Potential Victims

The Melbourne Police Department is sending out a call for unwanted cell phones, with plans to configure those phones to dial 911 in an emergency.  The phones will then be put into the hands of persons known to be at risk of violence.

The request for cell phone donations comes as Melbourne joins a national observance of Crime Victims’ Rights Week, said Sgt. Cheryl Trainer.  “Victims of physical crimes within the City of Melbourne are eligible to receive the phones,” she explained.  The phones are reprogrammed so that they can call only the 911 emergency number.

The cell phone donations are being accepted at three locations:

-- The Melbourne Police Department headquarters building at 650 N. Apollo Blvd.

-- The Communications and Criminal Investigations Division building at 701 S. Babcock St., between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

-- The Police Community Relations Office at the Melbourne Square Mall, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Information about national resources available to help crime victims is available from the federal Office for Victims of Crime via the web at www.crimevictims.gov.
 

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